Folding clothes-rack.



No. 823,807. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

A. F. PETERS.

FOLDING CLOTHES RACK. APYLIOALBION' FILED 00T,14,1905.'

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; UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

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Specification of Late -s- 59am P'atent'ed June} 19, was.

Application filed Otdiier 1 1 190%. Serial No. 2am.

To (ZZZ whom it may conc'crhj I Be it known that I,- ANToN FRANZ PETEizs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cortland, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding. Olothes Rack, of which the following is a full, clear, and exaet description.

This invention relates to clothes-racks. The obj ect of the invention is to roduce a device, of this kind which may be olded together, so as to be carried conveniently in a traveling bag .or satchel, but which may be readily opened out and set up when desired for use.

While the device operates in one capacity as a hanger for clothes it presents a horizontal rest upon which clothes may be placed in a folded position, thereby preventing. the forming ,of wrinkles. g

The invention consists inthe construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter, and definitely set forth in the claims. 1

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of, reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the device, representing the same in its open position, a portion of the device being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan of the device, showing the same in its folded position; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken through a joint which constitutes a feature of the device.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the frame, which preferably consists of a substantially rectangular plate having its central portion punched out so as to form an opening 2, as indicated. The vertical side edges of this opening are formed into outwardly-projecting flanges 3, to which folding arms 4 are to be attached by hinge connections 5, as will be readily understood. These arms 4 are preferably punched out of sheet metal andpresent upwardly-projecting horns 6 at their extremities. Each of these horns terminates in a laterally-projecting foot 7, as indicated in Fig. 3, and to these feet 7 knuckle-plates 8 are rigidly attached, the said knuckle-plates comprising leaves 9 and 10, having a hinge connection 11 therebetween, as shown. It should be understood that the axis of the hinge connection 11 is disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the frame 1 when the arms are disposed in the position showniiiFig. 1; The leaves 10 of the knuckle-plates 8 are pro''' vided each with a pair of oppositely-disposed elongated sleeves 12. Through these. sleeves 12 the double bars 13 and 14 pass slidably; The double bar 13 presents oppositely-disbeing passed through the sleeves 12 are off set inwardly, as indicated at 16, so as to p'revent their being accidentally withdrawn;

. As indicated in Fig, 1, the b'i'ght or bend tially similar to the bar 13, except that it is" not offset; Its limbs 18 simply passs'lidably through the sleeve12 of the opposite arm and have attached to their extremities a" co'nnection plate 19, g V a substantially rectangular body disposed transversely of the limbs presenting elongated sleeves 20 at its extremities, into which the extremities of the limbs 18 are thrust and rigidly held, as shown. A ainst this ,body a retaining-clip 21 is rigid y attached, the same having upwardly-offset ex tremities which rest upon the sides of the sleeves 20, as shown. In these offset extremities openings are formed, as will be readily understood, which are adapted to receive the legs 15 of the opposite bar 13, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

At substantially the middle point of the frame 1 and near its upper edge I attach a hat-hook 22, which is adapted to project upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1. The foot of this hook is attached by a sin 1e rivet or pivot 23 to the frame, which enables the hook to be rotated downwardly in such a manner that it will projectacross the front of the frame, as indicated most clearly inElFig. 2.

When it is desired to fold up the rack, the double bars 13 and 14 are pulled asunder, so as to disconnect the extremities of the limbs 15 from the connection-plate 19. This being done, the bars are folded into a vertical plane, rotating, respectively, upon the axes of their hinge-joints 11. This being done, the two arms 4are then folded inwardly upon their hinge connections 5 so that they lie one upon the other over the face of the frame. Having folded the arms in this manner, the hat-hook 22 will be rotated down into the position shown in Fig. 2, so that it will operate as a bar to prevent the opening out of the arms. When in this position, the clothesposed parallel limbs or legs 15, which after This plate eonsis'ts" of rack may evidently be conveniently packed into a traveling-case.

In order to enable the rack to be supported conveniently, the upper edges of the frame 1 are provided with hooks 24, the bodies of which are attached by hinge connections to plates 26, the said plates being rigidly attached to the frame, as shown. These hooks normally occupy the position indicated in Fig. 1, but may be folded back against the plates 26, as indicated in Fig. 2, rendering the structure more compact.

Preferably near the lower parts of the horn 6 outwardly-projecting tongues or hooks 27 are formed in the arms 4, and these are adapted to have trousers or other garments hung thereupon. When the rack is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the double bars 13 and 14 evidently constitute a bridge or shelf connecting the arms and constitute a convenient support for folded garments.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1., In a device of the class described, in combination, a frame, folding arms carried thereby, folding bars pivotally connected with said arms and adapted to be extended into a substantially horizontal position, and a sliding connection between said bars.

2. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a-frame, arms carried thereby and projecting laterally therefrom, knuckleplates jointed on said arms, bars slidably mounted through said knuckle-plates, and means for connecting said bars.

3. A device of the class described, having a pair of oppositely-disposed folding arms, folding bars pivotally connected with said arms, and means for connecting said folding bars.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a frame, arms carried thereby and adapted to fold upon the face thereof, and a hook movably mounted on said frame, constituting a garment-support and adapted to occupy a position projecting across said frame to retain said arms in a folded position.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a frame, arms jointed thereto near the extremities thereof and adapted to project laterally, knuckle-plates presenting sleeves jointed to said arms, bars slidably mounted through said sleeves, and means for connecting said bars so as to bridge said arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTON FRANZ PETERS.

Witnesses EDGAR CANFIELD, ADAM THEIS. 

